Shoe



Aug. 28, 1923.

W. C. HABB'ERLEY SHOE Filed Nov. 4. 1921 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 28,1923.

1,45%@552 j F F I E WILLIAM` c. nnmanaLnv, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

snon Application filed November To all whom t may concern.'

lBe it known that 1', WILLIAM C. HAB- BERLEY, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the `countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoes, and more particularly to shoes worn when walking or exercisingwherethe intense activity of the wearer causes frequent stress Vor bending action at the joints between the toes and the ball of the foot, and has for onc'of its objects to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vamp attachment or a shoe provided with a vamp attachment for the purpose of reinforcing the shoe where the greatest stress occurs, as well as for protectingthe outside of the hallux, or great toe, between the two Y joints, against sharp abrasion and chang caused by the deep wrinkle in an ordinary shoe when bent forward and which occurs when the heel is raised while the toeisr'on the ground. .j

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vamp attachment or a shoe including a vamp attachment for the purpose referred to and with the vamp attachment formed of a toe cap portion, a ball 4strap portion and a vamp guard integral with each other and formed from a one-piece flexible body, such as leather, and not only secured directly to the outer face of the vamp, but further secured to the sole of the shoe.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim,and in the drawings illustrative lof the preferred embodiment of the invention Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe with the improved attachment applied.

F ig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a View of the improved device before being applied to the shoe.

In walking and in many forms of athletic exercises, relatively heavy stress is produced at the joint between the ball and toe portions of the foot frequently resulting in fracturing the shoe material at these points. The toe of the shoe is also liable to come in violent contact with the ground or obstructions rising therefrom. Then again the inner or 4, 1921. Serial No. 512,804.

contiguous portions of the shoe,'or the parts this invention, for not only reinforcing .the

vamp of the shoe, but also for protecting the outside of thefhallux, great toe, between thejoints thereof is formedrfrom a flexible body, preferably leather, of vamp-like form and which is of a width to extend around' the vamp of the shoeand of a length to inclose the toe of the shoe and terminate at a point removed from the rear end of the shoe vamp. The said fiexible body is formed with a cutout portion to provide a ball strap positioned between and spaced from the inner end of the shoe vamp and also spaced om the inner end of the toe of the shoe, and said ball strap extends laterally from the inner towards the outer side of said `flexible body. The intermediate part of the edge of said cut-out portion is rounded and positioned at the inside of the hallux, great toe, and provides'means whereby the surplus material of the shoe upper will fold upwardly when the foot -is bent forward. The rear edge of the flexible bodyis secured throughout to the vamp, as at 15,. The edge of the cut-out portion is secured throughout to the vamp, as at 17. The ball strap gradually increases in width from its inner towards its outer end.

The flexible body from which the attachment is formed is set upto provide a toe cap Y portion 10, a ball strap portion 11, and a vamp guard portion 12. The flexible body is formed of a single piece of material and when in position on the vamp 17 extends at the inner side thereof .so asy to protect the vamp at the outside of the hallux, great toe.

rlhe edge of the toe cap portion 10, as well as the outer edge ofthe vamp guard portion 12, and also the free end of the ball strap portion 11, is secured to the sole portion 13 of the shoe, in a well-lmown manner as illustrated in Figure 2, and as indicated at 14.

By this simple means an eficient toe cap, a vamp guard, and a ball strap are produced without the necessity for sewed joints between the parts.

The attachment does not present objec-, ytionable projections or protuberances on the shoe, while. at the same time all the advantages of the ktoe cap, and ball strap features over thefvainpopposite the large to'e'jointor' are secured together With arf wear? section at the point Where the right and left shoe are liable to Contact when in use in one single tight fitting' member;

rlhe preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the speeiiieation-7 butfit will -be unL derstood that modications Within the scope othe elanr may-be madein the construe-V tion f Without departing 'from -thef principle of 1the invention or sacrificing; any yof its ad vantages Having thus JullY described the'inrention;

what is claimed, is :-V

Incombination 1n ash'oe; a Vamp p1'o vided withaftoe=portio1n a flexible Combined 1 protective and reinforeingniember of Vamplike formy in'elosingsaid toe lportion and eX- tended upon saidvarnp, the rearedge of said memberterminating-:at apoint forwardly of the rear edge of the vamp, said member having a portion thereof constituting a vamp gua'rd'and 'further cutaway laterally to provide a ball strap extending from the inner side of said vamp guard portion and further spaced throughoutl from the inner end of the toe portion and the rear edge of the Vamp, the intermediate-part of the edgefof` said cut-awayportion being rounded;-y said member extended between theramp and thev sole,1neans for seeuringfthe'member, vamp and'sole together, and means foraseeuringf! the exposed Yedges of saidmember throughvv out tofthe= vamp,

Intestimonyfwhereof, ailiX my signature hereto; A

ILLIAMl C. HABBERUEY; 

